And Now A Moment Of State Pride

ClimateProgress, the blog run by scientist and former Energy Department official Joseph Romm, has been featuring an analysis of the different carbon reductions the United States needs to make to meet the IPCC’s recommendations. (Think of the total reductions as a pie, and each piece as a wedge.)

The global consulting firm McKinsey & Co. estimates that nearly 40% of the U.S. emissions reduction potential by 2030 is from energy efficiency. In the past three decades, Californian’s electricity per capita has stayed flat while it has risen 60% in the rest of the country. If all Americans had the same per capita electricity demand as Californians, we would cut electricity consumption 40%. And if all of America adopted the same energy efficiency policies that California is now putting in place, the country would never have to build another power plant.

It’s good news not just for California but for the whole country. Efficiency is relatively easy, compared to some of the other wedges. What’s more, Romm’s numbers provide a great talking point to all of your friends and family who think that greening their lives is unimportant.